A new survey has been published looking at the cost of ownership for gasoline vehicles compared to diesel vehicles. The University of Michigan conducted the study for Robert Bosch, LLC.

The study determined that diesel vehicles save owners between $2,000 to $6,000 in total ownership costs during a 3- to 5-year period compared to similar gasoline vehicles. The data was compiled by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

"Overall, the results of our analyses show that diesel vehicles provide owners with a TCO (total cost of ownership) that is less than that of the gas versions of the same vehicles," according to the study. "The estimates of savings for three and five years of ownership vary from a low of $67 in three years to a high of $15,619 in five years.”

The study claims that Volkswagen Jetta owners saved $3,128 while Volkswagen Golf owners saved an estimated $5,013 compared to owners of similar gasoline-powered vehicles. The study also finds that all of the diesel vehicles had better miles per gallon figures then gasoline versions with diesel is offering between 8% and 44% higher fuel economy.

The study also shows that nine of the 10 diesel vehicles held their value better the comparable gasoline vehicles.

Well the question that's not directly answered is if TCO includes fuel or not. It's implied that their metric does not include the cost of fuel and the savings are ON TOP of the savings in fuel over the same period.

So the number is actually much higher.

Given that diesel will cost you $2500 or so more (give or take) you gotta get it back. If you're getting it back on fuel AND TCO then you have a serious win.

From a different web site: "The study developed three and five year cost estimates of depreciation by modeling used vehicle auction data and fuel costs by modeling government data. The study also combined these estimates with three and five year estimates for repairs, fees and taxes, insurance, and maintenance from an outside data source."

So this is, as stated, a TCO analysis.

As an aside, I think most people assume diesels cost less to own, but they trade that off with convenience, noise, smell, and power. In the past, diesel had issues in those areas.

I know it's Total Cost of Ownership savings. This has been known since at least the 90s. Diesel engines are more durable and reliable. Dependability is the biggest factor in determining the value of used cars. Diesels also have less parts to break and and maintain.

Like I said, do we need a survey to know this? It has been done many times already. It would be more useful if they did a survey on satisfaction of owning a diesel vehicle. The dreaded shakes and noise of yesteryear is mostly gone. The smoke is nowhere near it used to be. The only bad thing it seem to have now is the urea tank and some gas stations not offering diesel.

Come on, you are just teasing him. He's talking about spark plugs, ignition coils, and spark plug wires. Those are countered in a diesel by glow plugs, DPF, and urea solution.

Any dually meant to pull horse trailers or boats is going to be less frugal than a petrol model. A Jetta 2.5 or 2.0 is going to be less frugal than the TDI model. Same for the Passat and apparently for the E250.

Honestly, this debate is going to be moot in 5-10 years. Diesel is just a stop-gap measure until hybrid/diesels come down in price. Saw my second Tesla S today; all black and looked great.The milestones to be mindful of are 2017, 2025, and 2030. That last one is big because that was the deadline for commercial diesels to meet emissions.

quote: Come on, you are just teasing him. He's talking about spark plugs, ignition coils, and spark plug wires. Those are countered in a diesel by glow plugs, DPF, and urea solution. Any dually meant to pull horse trailers or boats is going to be less frugal than a petrol model. A Jetta 2.5 or 2.0 is going to be less frugal than the TDI model. Same for the Passat and apparently for the E250.

What?Glow plugs = ~120k+ miles, most people run it way past that. It's common for a diesel car to have original glow plugs its entire life.DPF = ~120k+ miles, only newer diesel cars have catalytic converters so you can't even say it's an extra part all the time. At the same time, many gas cars have more than one cat converter.urea solution =~10k miles and barely cost anything.

Maintenance intervals for diesels are just longer and there are less wear/tear on the drivetrain due to its efficiency.

I guess I just can't argue with someone who thinks a jetta 2.5 is going to be less frugal the TDI model. Logic just went out the window there.

quote: I think most people assume diesels cost less to own, but they trade that off with convenience, noise, smell, and power.

That may have been true historically, but it hasn't been the case for a long time. My 2013 Jetta TDI isn't appreciably louder than any other car. I've never seen diesel smoke coming out the rear or it (or other modern TDIs). There is no exhaust smell that I've noted, though when the DPF recharge happens there can be a slight smell if your windows are down and you come to a stoplight. Power isn't and issue with the turbo. Horsepower is comparable to most other economy cars, and torque (i.e., "get up and go) is WAAAAAAY better.

BRB you seem to take issue with almost any article written here. You're always making some smart ass comment about how everyone already knew whatever, or how it's just more "Jason Mick sensationalism", whatever.

I'm sure I speak for many people when I say, nobody is keeping you here. I suggest you find a website that's more in line with what you're looking for.